Lilly’s Losers
NCAA FOOTBALL BOWL SEASON
It is playoff time! We also have a few hundred bowl games to play this year too which will provide good and bad games for viewers. Ohio State, I will never us the in front, got into the playoffs despite not winning the Big Ten. Go figure? However, the tree nuts got a good team this year, and they could make some noise. The fighting felines of Clemson have THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NATION, and they could easily get back to the championship game. Lilly’s losers, as a team, will not waste too much space on Bama. They will win it all enough said and early congratulations to the lumbering beasts.
Shout outs: At this point, we know of two readers of Lilly’s Losers! So, a big shout out to the Bucky Highsmith the grass cutting snappy dresser of Long Street Hills, and Pastor Stacy Cox the Orange and Purple man of the cloth here in Gainesville.
Posted by the Jungle Cat:
Alabama vs. Washington in the Peach Bowl.
The football genes between Alabama and Washington can be traced back to the 1925 Rose Bowl when the Crimson Tide nipped the Huskies 20-19. Since that initial game played with leather helmets the Tide and the Huskies, have met three other times with Alabama victorious in each game. As Huskie coach, Chris Petersen prepares his sled dogs for their trip to Atlanta he can draw on his experience when he brought his Boise State team south to play Georgia a while back.
Coach Nick and his Sabanites enjoy a trip to Atlanta as well. Since taking over the Alabama program, Darth Saban and the Dark Side, The Crimson Tide, has an 8-1 record playing in the Georgia Dome. Added to that is Coach Nick has plenty of experience handling the other breeds of canines of the SEC from Athens and Starkville. Lilly’s loser in a close one…Washington
Wisconsin vs. Western Michigan- Cotton Bowl
The difference in driving from Kalamazoo, MI to Dallas and Madison, WI to Dallas is only 73 miles. When you consider the distance between the football programs of Western Michigan and Wisconsin, it is light years. With the Broncos from Kalamazoo, you have an athletic department that boasts winning the 1964 and 1965 NCAA cross country championships. The Badgers counter with a Heisman Trophy winner, Rose Bowl trips, the Beer Barrel Polka and Alan “The Horse “Ameche. Lest we forget their famous fight song, “On Wisconsin.” Coach Paul Chryst for the Badgers and Coach PJ Fleck for the Broncos are direct opposites as well in their demeanor, coaching styles and experience. Put all of this together in the venerable old Cotton Bowl, and you have the makings of David and Goliath. Keep in mind that David has ready slain 2 Big 10 Goliaths this fall. Lilly’s loser…Western Michigan
Ohio University vs. Troy University – Dollar General Bowl
Ohio Bobcat coach Frank Solich has been around college football for a long time. Solich was the starting tail back for coach Bon Devaney’s Nebraska Cornhuskers at a strapping 5’7″ and 160 pounds. Troy University was once called Troy State, and its mascot was the Red Wave. Troy State became Troy University and the Trojans. It seems that another state school had a similar nickname, the Crimson Tide.
When Troy and Ohio meet in Mobile’s legendary Ladd-Peebles Stadium, it will be a feud between the Sun Belt Conference and the Mid-American Conference. Nothing is at stake in this bowl game except pride for the respective players and schools. Troy’s first bowl trip was to the Paper Bowl in 1948 where they played Jacksonville State.
At one point this year coach Neal Brown’s Troy squad was 6-1, ranked in the Top 25 and played Clemson tough before losing. Coach Solich always has the Bobcats at the top on the MAC. Both squads will enjoy their trip to Mobile where they will enjoy warm weather, sea food and other festivities. As always, both coaches will savor the extra practice time.
Lilly’s loser… Troy
Posted by the Oilman:
Ohio State vs. Clemson- Fiesta Bowl
Number two versus number three in sunny Glendale. Well well, what do we have here? The Big Ten is sending its Urban Meyer coached non-champion to make Buckeye Pie out of Dabo’s pussy-cats of Pickens County. It’ll come down to can JT outduel Deshaun (I shoulda won the Heisman) Watson. If Barrett is 100%, it might help; but if Watson is on his game, State will be put into a permanent siesta in the Fiesta. Lilly’s Loser: Ohio State
Michigan vs. Florida State- Orange Bowl
Look at those oranges falling from the sky. Dr. Jim will bring his multi-talented Jabrill Peppers and the rest of his romping, stomping, chomping, Wolverines to South Beach for a little Dalvin Cook hors d’oeurve, but if this Seminole gets cranking, it will be a long day for the maize and blue. Speed will win the day and Michigan will go home twice in a row licking their wounds. Lilly’s loser: Michigan
LSU vs. Louisville- Citrus Bowl
This charade should be a no brainer. What we got here is one team with a coach whose happier than a dead pig in the sunshine (See: Ed Orgeron) and another team with an AD and coach (See: Louisville Athletic Director and Coach Petrino) that couldn’t spell truth if you whispered to them the tr and the th. What we need here is a little dose of Wake Forest intel to help shore up the bases. The craw-dads are gonna have a tough time trying to contain Johnny Manzil’s new Heisman buddy, but might would make right if they can. It’s a toss-up, but I don’t think the Louisville Liar’s Club can stop the purple and blue #5 and #7. Lilly’s Loser in a close one: Louisville
Posted by the Bookkeeper:
USC vs. Penn State – Rose Bowl
Pasadena’s War of the Roses will be a matchup between the myth and the mountain lions when the Trojans of USC meet the Nittany Lions of Penn State. James Franklin’s highly motivated grid kitties are sharpening their claws after being snubbed by the college playoff selection committee in favor of Ohio’s inedible chestnuts. The broom-headed horsemen believe that they can’t lose in their own back yard. They’ve skinned the cats before and fully intend to lift the Leishman for the 25th time this year. In the end the deciding factor could be time and space since the cats are crossing a lot of country and time zones to play. Lilly’s loser by a whisker: Penn State
Auburn vs. Oklahoma – Sugar Bowl
Auburn’s Gus Malzahn and his team-with-three-names look to sweeten their ranking with a victory over Bob Stoops’ pioneers in this year’s Sugar Bowl. The soaring thunder chickens have beaten only one ranked team this year and would like to add to that by making the sod busters lay an egg in New Orleans. But the ‘Bama birds shouldn’t be too cocky – these Oklahomans aren’t settlers and are intent on keeping the SEC sugar free. The Sooners’ offense is potent with Baker Mayfield, Joe Mixon, Dede Westbrook and the prodigal Pettway. The war d*mn Eagles, will be worn down Eagles by the end of the day. Lilly’s loser in a mismatch: Auburn
Posted by Buttermilk:
Oklahoma State vs. Colorado- Alamo Bowl
The black and orange cow pokes will take on the black and brown snarling beasts in the Alamo Bowl. State had some bad luck this year because their coach is now sporting a mullet on the field. The Buffs are back to winning way after many years of roaming the prairie so this game could go either way. Look for the cow pokes to try and lasso the great beasts, However, the Buffalos don’t like Indians or Cowboys, and they will stampede over the bow legs of state. Lilly’s loser- Oklahoma State.
Georgia vs. TCU- Liberty Bowl
Well, this is a bowl game most of the nation will not pay attention to this year. The slobber Dawgs will try to chew up the pointy-headed toads. However, the school with the funny looking mascot is prickly when attacked, and they will not croak easily. The Classic City hounds will not have much interest in a fight, and the toads will just run up a tree and hide. In a very boring game, and who really cares, Lilly’s loser – TCU
Nebraska vs. Tennesee- Music City Boal
The Rifleman of the big Orange will take on the corn fed boys of big Red in the Music City Bowl. Don’t look for sweet music from this game! The red-faced coach will use his super genius quarterback, and the Mazola farmers will use their strong defense in this game. However, I think all we will get is one sour note from a hoarse fan singing Rock Top for the 1,000 time in one game. The cornbread boys will step up and shut down the Racoon heads in a tight game. Lilly’s Loser- Tennessee.
Lilly’s Losers is in honor of Leonard Postero who created the original Leonard’s Losers. Many fans, to this day, love the wit and humor of his football prognostications.
These musing are just for fun during the high school and NCAA football season.
The team:
Buttermilk- John N. Lilly III
Jungle Cat- JC Smith
The Bookkeeper- Rusty Hopkins
Oil Man- Johnny Nivens
Editor:
Little Man- Charlie Strong
Raymond James is not affiliated with Hall County High School Football, NCAA Football or any of the teams named herein. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of Raymond James.
